After Luo Yin took Lin Fan and left, the crowd in the main hall of Heavenly Fragrance Tower remained stunned for a long time.
A powerhouse at the Marquis Realm had just died right here.
No one dared to approach the corpse of Qiu Yuanqing, which was nailed to the wall.
Around the body, a vortex had formed with spiritual power surging wildly within it, as if it might explode at any moment.
This was the telltale sign left behind after one’s True Fate shattered.
At that moment, in a private booth on the second floor, Chen Yufeng felt a chill run down his spine.
Gazing at Qiu Yuanqing’s corpse, he clicked his tongue in shock under his breath.
“Too terrifying! He’s practically a monstrous genius! Thank goodness I didn’t foolishly try to get revenge on him. You can’t afford to make an enemy of a prodigy like that!”
Then he shook his head and let out a soft sigh, murmuring, “Elder Gu, you’ll just have to bear with it for now. This grudge… we can’t settle it.”
The others in the main hall gradually began to whisper among themselves. Many of them were cultivators from other regions who had come for the Newcomers List and the prize that Lin Fan had questioned. None of them had expected something like this to happen.
Some with ulterior motives quietly memorized Luo Yin’s appearance, planning to report back to their sects.
After all, a prodigy like him would surely grow into an invincible force. It was best to avoid provoking him if at all possible.
The manager of Heavenly Fragrance Tower merely shook his head helplessly at the sight of his storyteller being taken away. He made no move to intervene.
Even if he had, he probably wouldn’t have been a match for Luo Yin.
“Sigh… The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. That young man was a bit too flamboyant.”
In the corner, an old man shook his head with a helpless sigh, his tone filled with regret.
He drained the wine cup before him in one gulp, then rose and headed upstairs.
In the private booth, Ling Qingxue and the others were preparing to leave.
Suddenly, an old man appeared in the booth.
The women instantly went on high alert.
Seeing their reaction, the old man chuckled wryly and said, “No need to be nervous, ladies. This old man is only here to take someone back.”
“You’re the Old National Master?”
Luo Qianqiu recognized the old man at that moment.
He was the Old National Master of the Daluo Ancient Dynasty, the one who had spoken up a few days earlier to confirm the existence of the Blood Nether.
The Old National Master smiled and nodded slightly. Then his gaze turned to Xiao Yurou, who was hiding behind the group.
“Princess, Lin Fan probably won’t survive much longer. It’s time for you to come back with me, don’t you think?”
Xiao Yurou stepped forward with her head lowered, looking at the Old National Master pitifully.
“Can’t I stay a little longer? I want to play with Sister Qianqiu some more. The palace is so boring.”
The Old National Master shook his head, his expression turning serious.
“Of course not. The Great Luo Sacred Scripture is about to begin. As the princess, you must return in advance to prepare. His Majesty has already been tolerant enough by not having me bring you back sooner during your time in the capital. We can’t delay any further.”
Luo Qianqiu spoke up from the side. “Yurou, you should head back first. I’ll be going there in a few days too. Be a good girl. Oh, and here’s the continuation of Tales of the Great Wilderness. Young Master Luo specially compiled it and asked me to pass it on to you.”
With that, she took out a thick storybook from her storage ring—the only complete volume of Tales of the Great Wilderness that Luo Yin had prepared on his own.
Xiao Yurou’s eyes lit up at once. She accepted it with a beaming smile.
“Thank you, Sister Qianqiu. Please thank Young Master Luo for me. If he runs into any trouble in the Daluo Ancient Dynasty, he should speak up. If there’s anything I can do to help, I absolutely won’t refuse.”
Then she turned to the Old National Master. “Alright, let’s go.”
The Old National Master nodded and turned to leave with Xiao Yurou. But he paused and looked back at Ling Qingxue and the others.
“Your young master is a peerless prodigy. He carries profound secrets on him that even this old man can’t see through. If he continues to grow, he will surely dominate the world.”
“However, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. He couldn’t keep a low profile today, and now not only will the remnants of the Blood Nether Clan set their sights on him—various factions with ill intentions who covet the treasures he possesses will likely make a move against him as well.”
“Give him this Sun Moon Shuttle. It might save his life in a pinch. Consider it payment for looking after the princess these past few days.”
With that, the Old National Master tossed a shuttle to Ling Qingxue. Without another word, he took Xiao Yurou and vanished from the booth.
Meanwhile, in a certain room at Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
Luo Yin had sealed the room with a secret technique. Even a powerhouse at the Marquis Realm wouldn’t be able to spy on anything inside.
In the corner, Lin Fan leaned against the wall with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, a bitter smile on his face.
He looked up at Luo Yin, who stood not far away, and said with a sense of resignation, “I never imagined you were a transmigrator too.”
A faint smile played on Luo Yin’s lips as he walked toward him.
“Sorry about this. Originally, the two of us could have coexisted peacefully and roamed this foreign world together. But fate decreed otherwise. The System wants me to play the villain opposing the Child of Destiny. I don’t want to, but if I refuse, it will abandon me.”
“So, I have to kill you.”
Lin Fan gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“Then why did you bring me here?”
Luo Yin looked at him calmly. “The world we’re in is from a xianxia novel, but I haven’t read this book and don’t know the plot. You, on the other hand, have read it multiple times and know a lot about the characters. So I need you to answer some questions.”
Although the System allowed Luo Yin to view the plot, it only showed parts involving him.
And his role in the original story wasn’t significant, so even if he checked, it wouldn’t reveal anything important.
That was why Luo Yin planned to get the answers from Lin Fan.
Lin Fan sneered at him. “Do you think I’ll tell a man who’s about to kill me everything I know?”
Luo Yin shrugged. “You don’t have to tell me. But right now, you have no cultivation left and no tricks up your sleeve. Extracting the information from your mind would be child’s play. You’ve probably heard of the Soul Search Technique, right? Are you sure you can endure that kind of pain?”
At these words, a flash of terror crossed Lin Fan’s eyes.
“You… you want to soul search me?”
“If you won’t talk, that’s my only option. I’ll let you suffer a bit before you die. But it depends on your choice—the outcome will be the same either way. Do you want a painful death or a quick one? It’s up to you.”
Luo Yin said it casually.
Lin Fan swallowed hard, unable to hide the fear in his eyes. He knew a thing or two about the Soul Search Technique.
Once subjected to it, the agony was indescribable—a torment from the depths of the soul, a hundred times worse than any physical pain.
After a long silence, Lin Fan looked up at Luo Yin and gritted out, “I… I can tell you. But you have to promise to let me die quickly!”
Luo Yin smiled. “Of course. I won’t make things hard for a fellow countryman. And don’t think about trying to trick me. Now that I have the Primordial Heavy Pupils, I can see through illusions. Whether your words are true or false, you can’t fool me.”
Lin Fan was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
Seeing this, Luo Yin put away his smile and said, “First question: What exactly is the Blood Nether?”
